Dental hygiene device

ABSTRACT

The present dental hygienic device comprises: a drive-rod having a fluid transmission channel therein; a handle enclosing one end of said drive-rod wherein the handle comprises: a means for effectuating an axial reciprocation of said rod, and means for supplying said fluid for and to said fluid transmission channel; an essentially hollow mouthpiece detachably connected to said drive-rod, said mouthpiece molded to conform to the configuration of the oral cavity, and provided with a plurality of discharge ports directed to the teeth and surrounding tissues of the user; piston means depend from the other end of said drive-rod and are integral thereto, said piston means disposed within said hollow mouth-piece, and adapted to allow the egress of said fluid within the mouthpiece, and to effectuate pressurized expulsion of the fluid through said discharge ports; and a labial deflector and bite disposed on said drive-rod in front of the mouthpiece, and positioned directly in front of the anterior teeth when the present device is in use.

llliit States atent [1 1 1111 3,840,992

English Oct. 115, W74

[ DENTAL HYGIENE DEVICE [76] Inventor: Vergil R. English, 12 Foster St., ABSTRACT Clifton 0701 I The present dental hygienic device comprises: a drive- [22] Filed: .luly 30, W73 rod having a fluid transmission channel therein; a hen dle enclosing one end of said drive-rod wherein the [21] Appl' 383572 handle comprises: a means for effectuating an axial reciprocation of said rod, and means for supplying [52] US. Cl. 32/40 1R, 128/62 A, 128/66, said fluid for and to said fluid transmission channel; an

128/229 essentially hollow mouthpiece detachably connected [51] hit. Cl. Ante 3/00 o s id drive-rod, said mouthpiece molded to conform [58]v Field of Search 32/40 R; 128/62 A, 66, to the configuration of the oral cavity, and provided 128/229, 248 with a plurality of discharge ports; directed to the teeth and surrounding tissues of the user; piston means de- [56] References Cited pend from the other end of said drive-rod and are in- UNITED STATES PATENTS tegral thereto, said piston means disposed within said 1,278,225 9/1918 Schamberg .1 401 42 l 'P' i and adapted to allow. the egress 1,826,434 10 1931 Reiss 128/62 A of .fluld the mouthplefze' and to i l 2,672,143 3/1954 Gold etaL I u 28/62 A pressurized expulsion of the fluid through said d1s- 3,527,213 9/1979 Wasting g 128/229 charge ports; and a labial deflector and bite disposed 3,610,234 10 1971 Oates 1 2 A on said drive-rod in front of the mouthpiece, and posi- 3,731,675 5/1973 Kelly 128/62 A tioned directly in front of the anterior teeth when the present device is in use.

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mel K. Silverman, Esq. n Chums, w Drawing Figures DENTAL uvGiENE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Investigations of recent years into the causes of dental disease have generated the conclusion that most dental problems are traceable to a gradual but continuous deterioration of the gums and other supportive tissue. This phenomenon is often termed periodontal disease, and, as such, occurs even in individuals having seemingly healthy gum tissue. As a result of periodontal disease, the tissues and structures that hold the teeth secure in their sockets gradually deteriorate. This deterioration accounts for the greatest percentage of tooth loss of persons approaching middle age. Although the disease usually begins during adolescence, it is not generally noticed until a person has reached approximately age 30. Dentists have shown that tooth loss can be prevented by a regular program of oral hygiene that will diminish the advance of periodontal disease. However, the practical difficulty of this approach is that most people are unable to afford the time and cost which adequate dental care would involve.

A further conclusion of dental research in recent years has been that the brushing of teeth as it is now practiced has also been a major cause in the advancement of periodontal disorders.

Yet another factor resides in the combination of abrasives used in toothpastes, plus the fact that the nylon bristles used in many toothbrushes eventually cause significant damage to both the tooth surfaces and the supporting gum tissue.

It is also felt the tooth brush, even when properly used cannot reach many of the harmful organisms that are to be found in the gingival crevices, in the subgingival region and in many areas of fixed restorations.

One attempt to answer the above problem has appeared in the form of a water-jet or spray device. The water jet device represents an improvement over the toothbrush inasmuch as it is able to more effectively remove bacterial deposits and food from between the teeth. However, it is still generally felt that there is much to be desired by way of thorough cleansing both as to tooth surfaces and gum tissue in both the gingival and sub-gingival areas.

Another dental hygiene method, namely thatof the regular use of dental floss is also limited in its capacity to sufficiently cleanse the gingival and sub-gingival regions. In addition, dental floss, like the water jet, involves a greater amount of time and effort than most people are willing or'able to expend on their teeth.

The present invention eliminates the above shortcomings in the prior art and, in so doing, present a means which is both more effective and more economical than any previously known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes a principle of variable high-frequency fluid oscillation in order to effectuate a deep cleansing action of the teeth and gums, as well as generating the greater blood circulation needed for normal gum restoration.

The present invention includes a drive-rod having a fluid transmission channel therein, as well as a handle enclosing one end of said drive rod. Said handle includes a means for effectuating an axial reciprocation of the rod and also includes a means for pumping said fluid to said fluid transmission channel said means including a unidirectional stop valve. Also included in the present invention is an essentially hollow mouthpiece connected to said drive-rod. The drive rod may be designed so as to permit its bending to conform to that angular position which is most comfortable to a user.

The mouthpiece is molded to conform to the configuration of the lingual cavity, and is provided with a plurality of discharge ports directed to the teeth and gums of the user. In addition, the mouthpiece may be provided in a plurality of different sizesone for each user. Such individualized mouthpieces would be of hygenic value in limiting bacteria spread among different users in a household. A quick-disconnect design permits a ready changing of mouthpieces.

Piston means depend from the other end of said drive-rod and are intregral thereto. The piston is disposed within said hollow mouthpiece and is adapted so as to allow the egress of said fluid within the mouthpiece and to effectuate the pressurized expulsion of said fluid through said discharge ports. A labial deflector is disposed on said drive rod in front of said mouthpiece and directly in front of the anterior teeth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which the present dental hygiene device would be used by a user.

FIG. 3 is a perspective, partial break-away view of the drive-rod, the labial deflector, the mouthpiece and the piston means.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the mouthpiece of the present invention inserted into the lingual area, illustrating the cleansingfunction during the push (or pressure) stroke of the piston means.

FIG. Sis a view, similar to FIG. 4, however illustrating the cleansing function during the pull (or compression) stroke of the piston means.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the portholes of the mouthpiece.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged topcross-sectional view of the mouthpiece, piston means and drive rod of the present invention, particularly illustrating the pressure-safety valves within the'piston structure.

FIG. Ea. is a break-away detailed view of the handle structure of the present invention.

FIG. 8b is a schematic view of a frequency-reducing gear-drive in the handle.

FIG. 9 is a view of the mouthpiece illustrating an alternative embodiment of the piston means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the illustrations of FIGS. l and 8 is a drive-rod 10 having a fluid transmission channel I2 disposed therein. A handle 14 encloses one end of said driverod. Structured within the handle 14 is a means for effectuating an axial reciprocation of the rod 10. Said means may take the form of a transducer toroidally wound about said rod or a motor 16. Also included within the handle I4 is a means for supplying fluid to the fluid transmission channel 12. As shown in FIG. 8a,

said fluid supply means takes the form of a reservoir 18 in combination with a thumb-pressured piston pump 20.

The reservoir 18 is filled with a dental hygienic solution before each use of the device. After the reservoir.

18 has been filled, the solution is forced out by the pump 20 and through the fluid transmission channel 12 in to a mouthpiece 22.

Referring now to FIG. 3, one observes an essentially hollow mouthpiece 22 connected to said drive-rod 10. The mouthpiece 22 is molded in order to conform to the configuration of the lingual cavity, and is provided with a plurality of discharge ports 24 which are directed at multiple areas of both the teeth and surrounding tissues of the user. This function may be observed in FIG. 6 which illustrates, in enlarged view, four of the different types and directions of fluid oscillations which emanate from said ports 24. These sprays are directed at a plurality of different teeth; the sprays include: a maxillary spray 26, the occlusial sprays 28 and a mandabular spray 30. The motion of said sprays is further illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. It is to be noted that said sprays effectively cleanse every region of the oral cavity. These include: (a) all tooth surfaces-lingual, occlusial, interproximal, incisal, labial, and bucal; (b) the gingival area, and (c) the subgingival area. In the case of fixed dental restorations, the cleansing action will reach many surfaces and crevices that are difficult to cleanse with existent dental hygenic techniques, e.g., brushing, flossing, water jets and mouthwashes.

Contained within the mouthpiece 22 are piston means 32 which depend from the end of the quickdisconnect drive-rod which is opposite to the end of said rod which is enclosed by said handle 14. See FIGS. 3 and 7. The piston means, which is hereinafter referred to as a piston, is disposed within said hollow mouthpeice 22 and is adapted to effectuate a pressurized egress of the dental hygiene solution from a back region 34 of the mouthpiece and through the ports 24. The net result is a continual push-pull oscillatory movement of the hygienic fluid. The push (or compression) stroke of the piston is illustrated in FIG. 4, while the pull (or decompression) stroke is illustrated in FIG. 5. The continual push-pull action of the fluid, created by the pressure and decompression strokes of the piston, generate an alternating push and pull of the solution against the teeth, the surrounding tissues, and the interproximal areas between the teeth. The solution is pulsed between the teeth, along the gumline and about the surrounding soft tissues, thereby causing a cleansing and massaging effect throughout the entire gingival area as well as microns of depth into the subgingival area.

The ports 24, shown in FIG. 6, contain sharp interior cutting edges which serve to shread or masticate food particles as they are pulled into the ports. Also illustrated in FIG. 6 are, as aforestated, the various orientations of the ports for directing the hygienic solution in a plurality of different directions.

It may be seen in FIG. 7 that the reciprocating movement 35 of the piston occurs only within a central area of the mouthpiece. This area is about three-eighths inch in width. However, because of the pressure under which the fluid is injected into the mouthpiece from the fluid transmission channel 12, the three-eighths inch reciprocating length is sufficient to create the desired pressure within themouthpiece 22. In addition, the repetition frequency (180 Hz) of the drive rod or pis- I ton contributes to a high fluid pressure, both during egress and ingress of the solution through the ports 24. Said repetition frequency is transmitted throughout the solution, thus giving rise to an oscillatory mass. Such a phenominon will, as aforestated, induce a deep cleansing action throughout the oral cavity.

The piston 32, shown in FIG. 7, consists of two portions: a transverse member 36 and a longitudinal member 38 which is integral and colinear with the rod 10. Within the transverse member 36 is a plurality of safety valves 40. These valves render it impossible for an excessive amount of pressure to be exerted by the hygenic solution within the oral cavity. Should the pressure within the mouthpiece, at any time, exceed a predetermined level, the valves 40 will open, thereby preventing any possible damage to the mouthpiece or injury to the user of the device.

Disposed on said drive-rod in front of the mouthpiece, is a labial deflector 41 which is positioned directly labial to the anterior teeth. The purpose of the labial deflector is to prevent any of the hygenic solution from escaping from the labial area and thus forcing its way out of the mouth of a user.

Illustrated in FIG. 8b is an alternate embodiment 10 of the drive rod. Said alternate embodiment comprises a pawl and ratchet 42 used in association with a drive wheel 44. Such a pawl and ratchet arrangement can be used to scale the repetition frequency f of any prime mover up to a higher desired frequency f Illustrated in FIG. 9 is an alternate embodiment of the piston means: The mouthpiece remains the same particularly with regard to the discharge ports. However, instead of a, piston push-pull action, a revolving disk 46 is utilized, with a gear 48 which is meshed and connected to said drive rod 10. The revolving disk 46 exhibits fins 50 which oscillate the solution through the ports 24 as a result of centrifugal forces. The fins 50 are fewer in number than the ports 24, so that a suction or partial vacuum is created at every other port 24, thus generating a push-pull oscillation. The frequency of oscillation of the fluid is dependant upon the speed of rotation of the disk 46.

It is to be noted that the present invention may be designed in different models, each producing fluid sprays (see FIG. 6) of varying intensity. Those models designed with more intense sprays would be used exclusively by dental professionals. Those with a less intense spray would be suitable for use by the general public.

It is thus seen that the object of obtaining an improved dental hygenic device system of an automotive vehicle has been effectively attained by the abovedescribed embodiments of the present invention. While there have been herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described and that within said embodiments certain changes in the detail and construction, and the form of arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea of principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, useful and non-obvious, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A dental hygienic device, comprising:

a. drive-rod having a fluid transmission channel therein;

b. a handle enclosing one end of said drive-rod, said handle comprising:

i. means for effectuating an axial reciprocation of said rod; and ii. means for supplying said fluid for and to said fluid transmission channel; c. an essentially hollow mouthpiece connected to said drive-rod, said mouthpiece molded to conform to the configuration of the oral cavity, and provided with a plurality of discharge ports directed to the teeth and surrounding tissue of the user; piston means depending from the other end of said drive-rod and being integral thereto, said piston means disposed within said hollow mouthpiece and adapted to: allow the egress of said fluid into the mouthpiece and effect the pressurized oscillation of said fluid through said discharge ports; e. a labial deflector disposed on said drive-rod in front of the anterior teeth when the device is in use.

2. The device as recited in claim l in which said device further comprises: fluid regulation means, disposed within said channel, for regulating the flow parameters of said fluid.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 in which said valve means includes a unidirectional flow element.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 in which said means for effectuating an axial reciprocation comprises:

a. a magnetic transducer, toroidally disposed about said drive-rod; and

b. a power source for said transducer.

5. The device as recited in claim 2 in which said fluid supply means includes:

a. a reservoir adapted for filling to a pre-determined volume; and

b. a pump for selectably controlling the pressure parameter of said fluid as it is supplied to said fluid transmission channel.

6. The device as recited in claim 1 in which the discharge ports of said mouthpiece are provided with means for shreading any particles of food that are oscillated through said ports.

'7. The device as recited in claim 6 in which said mouthpiece and said deflector are composed of materials that are lower in density than the enamel of a tooth.

ii. The device as recited in claim 1 in which said piston means in association with said. reciprocating driverod comprises means for producing alternating pres sure and vacuum strokes within said mouthpiece, thereby imparting an oscillatory motion to said fluid and to the incidence of said fluid upon the teeth and the gingival and subgingival areas.

9. The device as recited in claim 8 in which said piston means comprises a T-shaped element.

10. The device as recited in claim 8 in which said piston means comprises a circular rotating structure hav ing a plurality of peripheral fins adapted to create, in association with the hygienic fluid, a dynamic oscillatory motion into and out of said ports.

11. The device as recited in claim l in which said mouthpiece is detachable from said drive-rod, thus permitting any number of mouthpieces of different sizes to be alternately used with a single handle and drive-rod combination. 

1. A dental hygienic device, comprising: a. drive-rod having a fluid transmission channel therein; b. a handle enclosing one end of said drive-rod, said handle comprising: i. means for effectuating an axial reciprocation of said rod; and ii. means for supplying said fluid for and to said fluid transmission channel; c. an essentially hollow mouthpiece connected to said drive-rod, said mouthpiece molded to conform to the configuration of the oral cavity, and provided with a plurality of discharge ports directed to the teeth and surrounding tissue of the user; d. piston means depending from the other end of said drive-rod and being integral thereto, said piston means disposed within said hollow mouthpiece and adapted to: allow the egress of said fluid into the mouthpiece and effect the pressurized oscillation of said fluid through said discharge ports; e. a labial deflector disposed on said drive-rod in front of the anterior teeth when the device is in use.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1 in which said device further comprises: fluid regulation means, disposed within said channel, for regulating the flow parameters of said fluid.
 3. The device as recited in claim 2 in which said valve means includes a unidirectional flow element.
 4. The device as recited in claim 1 in which said means for effectuating an axial reciprocation comprises: a. a magnetic transducer, toroidally disposed about said drive-rod; and b. a power source for said transducer.
 5. The device as recited in claim 2 in which said fluid supply means includes: a. a reservoir adapted for filling to a pre-determined volume; and b. a pump for selectably controlling the pressure parameter of said fluid as it is supplied to said fluid transmission channel.
 6. The device as recited in claim 1 in which the discharge ports of said mouthpiece are provided with means for shreading any particles of food that are oscillated through said ports.
 7. The device as recited in claim 6 in which said mouthpiece and said deflector are composed of materials that are lower in density than the enamel of a tooth.
 8. The device as recited in claim 1 in which said piston means in association with said reciprocating drive-rod comprises means for producing alternating pressure and vacuum strokes within said mouthpiece, thereby imparting an oscillatory motion to said fluid and to the incidence of said fluid upon the teeth and the gingival and subgingival areas.
 9. The device as recited in claim 8 in which said piston means comprises a T-shaped element.
 10. The device as recited in claim 8 in which said piston means comprises a circular rotating structure having a plurality of peripheral fins adapted to create, in association with the hygienic fluid, a dynamic oscillatory motion into and out of said ports.
 11. The device as recited in claim 1 in which said mouthpiece is detachable from said drive-rod, thus permitting any number of mouthpieces of different sizes to be alternately used with a single handle and drive-rod combination. 